{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Emotionally Based School Avoidance: A Personal Story","description":"In this deeply personal episode, I\u2019m joined by Harriet Ennis, a psychology teacher from York and this year's winner of the British Psychological Society's Pre-Tertiary Education Psychology Teacher of the Year (PEPTOTY). Harriet reached out to share her personal experience of Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), previously referred to as school refusal. Harriet brings both professional insight and a powerful parental perspective to the conversation, as she opens up about her daughter J\u2019s journey through this challenging experience. EBSA describes children who are unable\u2014not unwilling\u2014to attend school due to overwhelming emotional or mental health difficulties. It's estimated that 1\u20135% of students experience EBSA, though this number may be even higher post-COVID. It's not about truancy or defiance\u2014it's about real, often invisible, distress. \ud83c\udfa7 In this episode: Harriet shares what EBSA looked like for her family We learn about how schools can help through deeper understanding of the issues, and strong communication with parents. J shares a symbolic moment: cutting her hair on Saturday 26th July 2025 as a sign of starting fresh\u2014and fundraising for a cause close to her heart \ud83d\udcac \u201cI went into a burnout for 6 months and at first, for weeks, I couldn't face light and I spent every day in a dark room... Coping with my sensory processing differences day after day had overloaded me... But I\u2019m getting better and better.\u201d \u2013 J If you would like to learn more about EBSA this article from the Psychologist magazine is a useful 5 minute read: https:\/\/www.bps.org.uk\/psychologist\/cant-not-wont-rethinking-school-avoidance J is raising money for Thornberry Animal Sanctuary in Yorkshire\u2014a nod to some fellow "hairy" friends\u2014by cutting off her tangled hair and starting again. If you\u2019d like to support her campaign, the JustGiving link is here. \ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\udc66If you would like further advice or support Harriet has suggest these links may be of use: https:\/\/daisychainproject.co.uk\/autism-central\/ (North of England) or https:\/\/www.childautism.org.uk\/for-families\/ (more broadly). \u26a0\ufe0f A quick note: This episode was recorded under less-than-ideal internet conditions, so you may notice a few audio hiccups. I\u2019ve done my best to smooth things out\u2014thanks for bearing with us. ","author_name":"Psychology in the Classroom","author_url":"https:\/\/changingstatesofmind.com","html":"